Middle School Program

The Forest and the Farm: Learn about the diverse ways humans have used plants and animals for food throughout history. Visit the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants to discover the complex communities of the southeastern U.S. and the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden to learn about domesticated fruits and vegetables.

Beyond the Pond (meets standards 6.L.2.1, 8.E.1.3):Students will examine a pond ecosystem and learn the infinite connections between the plants and animals, and how human activities affect the pond. Includes hands-on exploration of pond life. Limited to 20 students.

Discovery Garden: Introduce students to agriculture and sustainable gardening. What’s the difference between a fruit and a vegetable? What parts of plants do we eat? See bees, chickens, an orchard, vegetables and fruits, a historic tobacco barn and more.

Math in the Gardens: Measure, multiply or map your way through the garden. Learn about the different kinds of math that garden staff members use every day and solve your own garden math problem. Program content will be adjusted to match appropriate grade level standards.

Haiku Trail into the Gardens: Develop literacy skills and creative expression through sensory observation. Learn about the haiku poet Basho as you explore the Gardens and collect sensory descriptions to assemble your own haiku.

Go With the Flow (meets standards 8.E.1.1, 8.E.1.3, 8.E.1.4): Follow the flow of water through Duke Gardens to explore the hydrologic cycle. Observe water management infrastructure, perform hands-on experiments to determine properties of this urban watershed, and map your data.

Garden Walk: Observe seasonal highlights on a guided walk that introduces students to the biodiversity of Duke Gardens. Fee of $2 per student.